Dashboard and button/tile system for an interface

ABSTRACT

A system and approach having a display that shows a dashboard of smart buttons or tiles. The smart buttons or tiles may be situated in a matrix-like or other arrangement on the dashboard. The display may be customized. A smart button or tile may be operated like a standard button but conveniently pull summary information about a particular area of, for instance, a building controls system, for a user. The arrangement may permit the user to view the health of the whole system at a glance and permit the user a shortcut to see details of the particular area of the system quickly.

This present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/044,406, filed Jul. 24, 2018, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/461,188, filed Aug. 15, 2014. U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/461,188, filed Aug. 15, 2014, is herebyincorporated by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/044,406,filed Jul. 24, 2018, is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure pertains to displays, and particularly to thoseof heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

SUMMARY

The disclosure reveals a system and approach having a display that showsa dashboard of smart buttons or tiles. The smart buttons or tiles may besituated in a matrix-like or other arrangement on the dashboard. Thedisplay may be customized. A smart button or tile may be operated like astandard button but conveniently pull summary information about aparticular area of, for instance, a building controls system, for auser. The arrangement may permit the user to view the health of thewhole system at a glance and permit the user a shortcut to see detailsof the particular area of the system quickly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a screen with a cutaway view showing aperspective of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, anddata portions proximate to the perspective;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a screen that may reveal details of equipment ina building as indicated by an explorer tree;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a screen with an air handling unit selected fromexplorer tree, resulting in an information and data portion;

FIG. 4 is a diagram that includes a navigation tree for browsing bycategory, and covering a building;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a screen with tiled information such assub-portions that make up a portion;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a screen showing a dashboard that may incorporatean array of smart buttons;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a visual specification of a smart button;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a screen for specifications;

FIGS. 9-14 are diagrams of various smart button features that may beembedded in different building control display screens;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of a screen that may pop-up on a dashboard or be asmart button type of screen;

FIG. 16 is a diagram of a screen showing an overall structure of abuilding in which a space can be located for quick access;

FIG. 17 is a diagram of a screen revealing space with a temperature toohigh for the monitored space;

FIG. 18 is a diagram of a screen that indicates a charting oftemperature in the space;

FIG. 19 is a diagram of screen with chart 157 that may be changed insize or position to reveal more information;

FIG. 20 is a diagram of a screen that may reveal a percentage of timethat the temperature was a certain magnitude, greater or less, relativeto time showing; and

FIG. 21 is a diagram of screen indicating activity of the temperaturemonitoring system relative to the space of concern, and personnelnotifications and actions.

DESCRIPTION

The present system and approach may incorporate one or more processors,computers, controllers, user interfaces, wireless and/or wireconnections, and/or the like, in an implementation described and/orshown herein.

This description may provide one or more illustrative and specificexamples or ways of implementing the present system and approach. Theremay be numerous other examples or ways of implementing the system andapproach.

The present graphical user interfaces may be used for the nextgeneration building automation software. An ornamental design fordisplay screens or portion thereof with animated graphical userinterface may be shown. There may be a module carousel for buildingcontrol equipment display.

A modular information approach may be provided. A standard buildinggraphic display may be information designed to deliver consumable items(e.g., groups) of data related to the equipment or system display. Theitems may be modular and be removed or added to piece by piece dependingon category, technology, or any other functional grouping.

Dashboard and tile system for a software interface may be considered.There may be software design elements for changing between applications.There may be smart tiles for feature navigation.

Each smart tile may pull summary information to the user so that it cansignificantly reduce work effort and information gathering.

A dashboard may be a matrix of smart tiles that allows a user to viewthe health of a building controls system at a glance and allow a user aquick shortcut to delve into details of any particular area quickly.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a display 101 showing a graphic screen 10 with acutaway view showing a perspective of a heating, ventilation and airconditioning (HVAC) system 11, and data sensors and control components30 proximate to and indicating data and parameter information ofcomponents shown in the perspective on screen 10.

A cursor 165 may be moved around on screen 10. For instance, one mayright-click or mouse-over on a component, such as a heating coil 14,damper 27, fan 16, and so forth, to get a pop-up tool-tip like aninformation card 166. For example, cursor 165 may be placed with a mouseon fan 16 to get a pop-up like information card 166 providing criticalinformation about the fan to a user, such as runtime, number of starts,running amperes, and so on. The data presented may be defined anapplication profile for the associated piece of equipment depicted by agraphical element.

Outside air 21 from outside 25 may be drawn in at a duct 12 through adamper 13, a heating coil 14 and a cooling coil 15 by a supply fan 16.Supply fan 16 may provide supply air 22 through a duct 17 and a damper18 into a space 20 which is to be heated or cooled and ventilated withcirculation of air. Return air 23 may be drawn from space 20 by a returnair fan 19 into a duct 24. Some return air 23 may exhausted out tooutside 25 via a damper 26. Some return air 23 may go through a damper27 to a mixing space 28 where air 23 can be mixed with some outside air21 to result in mixed air 29 which is drawn through coils 14 and 15 tobecome supply air 22. The amount of return air 23 exhausted, the amountof outside air 21 brought in, and a mixture of return air 23 and outsideair 21 to become mixed air 29 are at least partially controlled bydampers 13, 26 and 27. The amounts and mixtures of the air may also becontrolled in part by supply fan 16 and return fan 19. A temperature ofsupply air may be controlled at least in part by coils 14 and 15 whichcan be controlled by heating and cooling valves, respectively. The mixedair 29 temperature may be controlled at least in part by dampers 13, 26and 27. The pressure of the air in space 20 may be controlled at leastin part by a combination of dampers 13, 26 and 27, and fans 16 and 19.

Screen 10 of FIG. 1 may incorporate control and information modules in acarousel 36 such as temperature control and specs 31, pressure controland specs 32 and operating specs and control 33. Other examples of themodules relating to system 11 may be incorporated in screen 10. Arrows34 and 35 may allow a user to scroll through other modules (notpresently shown) related to system 11.

Screen 10 may also incorporate a portion (not shown), entitledrelationships that list systems, such as a boiler and chiller,application profiles, such as a standard VAV, office scheduler,conference scheduler, and so on. The portion may also list zones, suchas interior zones, perimeter zones, zones in alarm, and so on. An alarmhistory for today, the last 7 days, last 30 days, and so on, may belisted in the portion. Screen 10 may incorporate more or fewer portions.

Screen 10 may be shown on a display 101. Display 101 may be connected toa processor 102. A memory 103 may be connected to processor 102.Processor 102 may be connected to HVAC 104. Connections to processor 102may include components 30 including sensors, actuators, and the like ofHVAC 104. A keyboard/mouse 105 may be connected to processor 102.Display 101 and keyboard/mouse 105 may constitute at least a portion forthe user interface for processor 102. Processor 102 may be connected toan interface 106 for other connections such as the internet, a buildingautomation system, and so forth.

The software engine driving display 101 may be directly linked to anapplication profile that is a grouping of data and/or algorithms with aspecific focus. For example, the focus may be around set points, orspace temperatures, or security.

The information structure of screen 10 may be compatible with a drop-inapp system. When a new feature drop-in is added to an existing runningsystem, it may have an associated information display module that willbe automatically available to view in a carousel 36. Users may be ableto pick and choose what data modules to include in the carousel displaysystem. The data modules may require no configuration out-of-the-boxbecause virtually all data are culled from the application profile.Essentially, the data are dynamically pre-configured. The data modulesmay be equipment and device agnostic in that the modules may work withany equipment and devices because what appears to matter is the datatype and data purpose. Data type and data purpose may drive theinformation displayed in the data modules.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a screen 40 that may reveal details of equipmentin a building as indicated by an explorer tree 41. More filters may beavailable by pressing a bar 42. Explorer tree 41 may indicate a buildingand a list of equipment in the building such as an HVAC, Boiler B-2(1)Chiller CH-1, Irrigation I-1, Lighting System L-1 and Security AccessS-1. Boiler B-2 may be selected resulting in an information and dataportion 43 of screen 40. Examples of information and data may be shownin sub-portions 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48. More information and data aboutBoiler B-2 may obtained by scrolling shown or up on the screen with abar 49.

Sub-portion 44 may be a details display with a diagram representing theselected equipment and including some data such as pressure andtemperature of the equipment such as the boiler. Sub-portion 45 mayindicate monitored alarms. Sub-portion 46 may indicate trends such asthat of an increase in energy over time. Trends may be available formany equipment selections. Sub-portion 47 may reveal a record ofprevious maintenance. The maintenance sub-portion may be function forsingle or multiple selections. Sub-portion 48 may reveal a schedule ofzones. Sub-portion 48 may provide summary information of current eventsand upcoming events. This sub-portion, like easy button data displays,may be configurable. Other sub-portions may be viewed with a movement ofbar 49, such as a sub-portion which indicates tenant bill information.This may be an administrative action that is not necessarily attached toany selected node. Visual treatments may be considered for global andadministrative type of functions.

FIG. 3, like FIG. 2, is a diagram of screen 40 with an AHU-1 selectedfrom explorer tree 41, resulting in an information and data portion 43.Instead of selecting the boiler of the building, a chiller CH-1 may beselected, and within the chiller, the air handling unit AHU-1 may beselected resulting in pertinent sub-portions in portion 43 of screen 40.VAV's for various rooms may be listed under the selected AHU. A focusmay be on a group or element in tree 41.

Sub-portion 51 may display a room layout of an area covered by the AHUand its VAV's. Sub-portion 52 may indicate a perform maintenancereminder. Sub-portion 53 may indicate monitoring of certain alarms.Sub-portion 54 may indicate management of a tenants' list andsub-portion 55 may indicate generation of tenants' bills. Eventscheduling may be shown with sub-portion 56. Bar 49 of screen 40 may bescrolled to view other sub-portions for the AHU.

FIG. 4 is a diagram that includes a navigation tree 41 for browsing bycategory, and covering a building. Categories may incorporate, forinstance, a network, system and building as a viewing type. Examples ofsub-portions 61-68 for the building may incorporate view display,perform maintenance and tuning, monitor alarms, generate reports, managetenants' lists, generate tenants' bills, schedule events, and scan fordevices, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a screen 50 with tiled information assub-portions 74-78 that make up a portion 73. An explorer tree 71 mayfill in another portion of screen 50. Network errors sub-portion 74 mayshow a current meantime (e.g., 3450 hours) between failures. Morespecific information in sub-portion 74 may incorporate examples ofinformation such as a rack 5 is approaching 5000 hours of uptime, thereare 48 failed packets, the network speed is 3.28 Mbps, and 3 networksare below baseline. Sub-portion 75 may show a diagram of add/editnetwork information. Managing IP (internet protocol) such as 5362 IPaddresses with a listing of the addresses may be shown in sub-portion76. Managing network devices, such as 3300 devices, may be indicated insub-portion 77. Reporting wireless commissioning in sub-portion 78 may,for instance, reveal 2 weak signals among 210 registered wirelessdevices. Many other examples of tiled information may be revealed.

Smart buttons may be embedded in various screen types, such as embeddedas secondary information on a graphic display. Smart buttons may bepositioned, resized, and so on. A smart button may support multiple datadisplay types. Examples may incorporate text displays, charts, graphs,image states, and animation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a screen 90 showing a dashboard 91 that mayincorporate an array of smart buttons 92. The user interface visualspecifications for the smart button itself may be a feature. Havingmultiple user interface states may be a common approach. The actualvisual state specifications may change from the FIG. 6 but there mayalways be visual states.

What makes the smart button/tile different is the delivery of deepreal-time content. The smart button may behave like a standard button“with” an additional ability to display deep system content. The contentdisplay on the smart button is itself not necessarily interactive but itis dynamic and real time.

One example may be a smart button for an energy log screen. The smartbutton for an energy log screen may contain dynamic real-time summaryinformation of the energy log. This information may be in the form of amini-graphic chart or a simple textual display. The actual display maybe customizable and configurable and subject to any graphic design. Whenthe smart button is pressed, the user may be navigated to the actualenergy log screen. The beauty of the smart button is that it may lay thefoundation for a dynamic real-time dashboard. When multiple smartbuttons are laid out on the screen, the user may effectively get adashboard that allows the user to view the health of a building controlssystem (or any system) by exposing customizable, relevant, and targetedreal-time data.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a visual specification of a smart button. Thespecification may incorporate the font and design of appearance for thesmart button. Four states of the smart button may be represented by asymbol 94 for a normal state, a symbol 95 for a hover state, a symbol 96for a pressed state, and a symbol 97 for a disabled state.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a test screen 111 for color specifications, andspecifications for parent and child nodes.

FIGS. 9-14 are diagrams of various smart button features that may beembedded in different building control display screens. FIG. 9 is adiagram of a screen 121 of smart buttons 122 and an image 123 of astructure such as that of a home. Information in a box 124 may relate toimage 123. Text 125 may relate to smart buttons 122, image 123, or otheritems. Screen 121 may be customized or generated.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a screen 126 having smart buttons. There may bean image 127 with a perspective view of a structure such as an HVAC.Text 129 may relate to structure 127. Blocks 128 may be images or textrelating to structure 127 or other items. Screen 126 may be a graphicdisplay with or without Omni graphics.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a screen 131 of properties. The screen may bedynamically generated. A smart button 122 may be used to generate blocks132 of text and/or images. Other information 133 may appear on screen131.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a screen 135 with a smart button. There may bedata or information 136. A data viewer 137 via charts may provide arepresentation of data or information 136.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of a screen 141 having a smart button 122 and oneor more tables 142 that may relate to smart button 122.

FIG. 14 is a diagram of a screen 145 revealing a dashboard. Thedashboard in this instance may a default smart button screen. There maybe standard buttons 122, and special buttons 146 and 147.

FIG. 15 may be a screen 151 that can pop-up on a dashboard or be a smartbutton type of screen. The image in screen 151 may reveal a space 153from a surveillance camera where a temperature sensor in space 153 hasindicated a higher than normal temperature revealing a possible fire.The camera image in screen 151 could show a fire in progress.

FIG. 16 is a diagram of a screen 152 showing an overall structure of abuilding 154 in which space 153 can be located for quick access withextinguishing equipment for quickly bring a possible fire under control.

FIG. 17 is a diagram of a screen revealing space 153, a bacterialaboratory, with a temperature of 92 degrees F., which could mean that,rather than a fire ensuing, some bacterial specimens might be in dangerof deterioration. Screen 153 may also indicate that an auto-adjustmentof the space temperature to 53 degrees F. is going to occur in 30seconds.

FIG. 18 is a diagram of a screen 156 that indicates a charting 157 oftemperature in the lab and shows one the temperature exceeding a safelimit.

FIG. 19 is a diagram of screen 159 with chart 157 that may be changed insize to reveal more information, such as a previous temperature history,or to improve readability of chart 157. Positions of chart 157 may bealso changed.

FIG. 20 is a diagram of a screen 161 that may reveal a percentage oftime that the temperature was 92 degrees or greater relative to othertemperatures at another time showing whether the temperature wasincreasing or decreasing for the amount of observed times.

FIG. 21 is a diagram of screen 162 indicating activity of thetemperature monitoring system relative to the lab of concern andpersonnel notifications and actions.

To recap, a dashboard system may incorporate a processor; a memoryconnected to the processor; a display connected to the processor; adashboard, having a matrix, available on the display for viewing by auser; and one or more smart buttons situated in the matrix. Activating asmart button of the one or more smart buttons may pull up a summary ofinformation and data of the content at the respective smart button. Theinformation and data may be from monitors and sensors of heating,ventilation and air conditioning equipment of a building. An image ofthe smart button may be customizable, configurable as to size andposition, and adaptable to virtually any graphic design.

The information and data may be displayed in the area of the smartbutton.

The smart button may provide a foundation for the dashboard system to bedynamic and real-time.

Activating a smart button may incorporate a press or touch of a user ora click of a mouse cursor on the smart button on the matrix.

Activating the smart button may result in an actual screen designatedfor that button.

Activating the smart button a second time may result in more informationat the button. The information may be derived from customizable,relevant and targeted data. The information may be in a form of amini-graphic chart or a simple textual display. The mini-graphic chartand simple textual display may be customizable, configurable and subjectto virtually any graphic or textual design.

Two or more smart buttons may be laid out in the matrix of the dashboardin an organized fashion. The organized fashion of the smart buttons maypermit a user, before activating any of the smart buttons to viewcharacteristics or health of a building controls system by exposingcustomizable, relevant and targeted real-time data about the buildingcontrols system in an organized fashion.

The smart button may have an appearance of a standard buttonincorporating the label and displaying content from the monitors andsensors in the building.

The smart button may incorporate one or more visual states. The one ormore visual states may be selected from a group consisting of a normalstate, a hover state, a pressed state and a disabled state.

Each smart button may incorporate one or more user interface visualspecifications. The one or more user interface visual specifications maybe selected from a group consisting of a font, font size, font color,border shape, border size, border color, standard text, descriptivetext, title text, background design, background color, and graphic zoomsizes.

A background color of the button may indicate a level of informationpresent on the button.

One or more smart buttons may be selected from a group consisting of aview details display, monitor alarms, view trends, maintenance, viewschedule, view display, perform maintenance, manage tenants' list,generate tenants' bills, schedule events, perform tuning, generatereports, scan for devices, network errors, add and edit a network,wireless commissioning reporting, manage network devices, manage IP(internet protocol), an air handler, a building server, a search filter,equipment details, and a navigation tree.

An approach for operating a dashboard may incorporate providing aprocessor, providing a memory connected to the processor, providing adisplay connected to the processor, obtaining a dashboard having amatrix of smart buttons on the display for viewing, and activatingmanually a smart button to show information that pertains to a buildingcontrols system.

Activating the smart button a second time may result in more informationat the button. The information may be derived from customizable,relevant and targeted data. The information may be in a form of amini-graphic chart or a simple textual display. The mini-graphic chartand simple textual display may be customizable, configurable andadaptable to virtually any graphic or textual design.

Two or more smart buttons may be laid out in the matrix of the dashboardin an organized fashion. The organized fashion of the smart buttons maypermit a user before activating any of the smart buttons to viewcharacteristics or health of the building controls system by exposingcustomizable, relevant and targeted data about the building controlssystem in an organized fashion.

One or more smart buttons, such as with respect to their labels oractions, may be selected from a group consisting of a view detailsdisplay, monitor alarms, view trends, maintenance, view schedule, viewdisplay, perform maintenance, manage tenants' list, generate tenants'bills, schedule events, perform tuning, generate reports, scan fordevices, network errors, add and edit a network, wireless commissioningreporting, manage network devices, manage IP (internet protocol), an airhandler, a building server, a search filter, equipment details, and anavigation tree.

A dashboard mechanism may incorporate a processor, a memory connected tothe processor, a display connected to the processor, a dashboard havinga matrix available on the display for viewing by a user, and one or moresmart buttons situated in the matrix. A smart button of the one or moresmart buttons, when activated, may reveal content that pertains to abuilding of interest.

The smart button may have an appearance of a standard buttonincorporating the label and having an ability to display deep real-timecontent of a controls system of the building. The information and datamay be displayed in the area of the smart button. A display of the smartbutton may be customizable, configurable and adaptable to virtually anygraphic design.

The smart button may incorporate one or more visual states. The one ormore visual states may be selected from a group consisting of a normalstate, a hover state, a pressed state and a disabled state. Each smartbutton may incorporate one or more user interface visual specifications.The one or more user interface visual specifications may be selectedfrom a group consisting of a font, font size, font color, border shape,border size, border color, standard text, descriptive text, title text,background design, background color, and graphic zoom sizes. Backgroundcolor of the button may indicate a level of information in terms ofdetail present on the button.

In the present specification, some of the matter may be of ahypothetical or prophetic nature although stated in another manner ortense.

Although the present system and/or approach has been described withrespect to at least one illustrative example, many variations andmodifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art uponreading the specification. It is therefore the intention that theappended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of therelated art to include all such variations and modifications.

What is claimed is:
 1. A building control system of a building, thebuilding control system comprising: a plurality of components of thebuilding control system located throughout the building and connectedover a network, the plurality of components including at least one datasensor, at least one control component, and one or more pieces ofequipment; a memory connected to the network; a user interface connectedto the network and including a display configured to display a real-timedashboard having a first portion including a menu displaying a list ofthe one or more pieces of equipment in the building and a second portionincluding a plurality of smart buttons arranged in a matrixconfiguration for viewing by a user; and a processor connected to thenetwork and upon selection, by the user via the user interface, of apiece of equipment from the one more pieces of equipment from the menu,the processor is configured to: access real-time data from the selectedpiece of equipment; process the real-time data; obtain an energy log forthe selected piece of equipment that includes dynamic real-time summaryinformation detailing an overall health of the selected piece ofequipment; associate a set of the dynamic real-time summary informationfor each of the plurality of smart buttons according to an identifiedcategory; and generate on the display within an area of each of theplurality of smart buttons, the associated set of the dynamic real-timesummary information for each of the plurality of smart buttons.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to accesshistorical data for the selected piece of equipment.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the processor is configured to access real-time databased on a data type.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor isconfigured to access real-time data based on a data purpose.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the real-time data is dynamicallypre-configured.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein each smart button ofthe plurality of smart buttons is configured to display a differentcategory of information.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the differentcategories of information are selected from group consisting of a viewdetails display, monitor alarms, view trends, maintenance, viewschedule, view display, perform maintenance, manage tenants' list,generate tenants' bills, schedule events, perform tuning, generatereports, scan for devices, network errors, add and edit a network,wireless commissioning reporting, manage network devices, manage IP(internet protocol), an air handler, a building server, a search filter,equipment details, and a navigation tree.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein upon selection, by the user via the user interface, of a smartbutton from the plurality of smart buttons, the processor is furtherconfigured to generate on the display within an area of each of a secondplurality of smart buttons, a more detailed description of the set ofthe dynamic real-time summary information associated with the smartbutton selected by the user.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein a visualstate of the plurality of smart buttons is customizable by the user. 10.The system of claim 1, wherein selection by the user comprises a pressor touch of a user or a click of a mouse cursor on the piece ofequipment on the menu.
 11. A method for operating a dashboard of abuilding control system of a building, the method comprising: selectingvia a user interface coupled to a processor and a memory a component ofthe building control system of the building; and wherein upon selectionof the component, the processor is configured to: access real-time datafrom the selected component; process the real-time data; obtain anenergy log for the component that includes dynamic real-time summaryinformation detailing an overall health of the component; associate aset of the dynamic real-time summary information for each of a pluralityof smart buttons according to an identified category; generate on theuser interface within an area of each of the plurality of smart buttons,the associated set of the dynamic real-time summary information for eachof the plurality of smart buttons; and selecting via a user interface asmart button from the plurality of smart buttons, upon selection, theprocessor is further configured to generate on the display within anarea of each of a second plurality of smart buttons, a more detaileddescription of the set of the dynamic real-time summary informationassociated with the selected smart button selected.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the processor is configured to display the dynamicreal-time summary information as a mini-graphic chart.
 13. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the processor is configured to display the dynamicreal-time summary information as a textual display.
 14. The method ofclaim 11, wherein a visual representation of the dynamic real-timesummary information is customizable by a user.
 15. A processor of abuilding control system connected over a network, the processorconfigured to: receive a selection, by a user via a user interfaceconnected to the network, of a piece of equipment of the buildingcontrol system from a menu generated on a display of the user interface;access real-time data from the selected piece of equipment; process thereal-time data; obtain an energy log for the selected piece of equipmentthat includes dynamic real-time summary information detailing an overallhealth of the selected piece of equipment; associate a set of thedynamic real-time summary information for each of a plurality of smartbuttons according to an identified category; and generate on the displaywithin an area of each of the plurality of smart buttons, the associatedset of the dynamic real-time summary information for each of theplurality of smart buttons.
 16. The processor of claim 15, furtherconfigured to display the dynamic real-time summary information as amini-graphic chart.
 17. The processor of claim 15, further configured todisplay the dynamic real-time summary information as a textual display.18. The processor of claim 15, wherein a visual representation of thedynamic real-time summary information is customizable by a user.
 19. Theprocessor of claim 15, further configured to access historical data forthe selected piece of equipment.
 20. The processor of claim 15, furtherconfigured to upon selection, by the user via the user interface, of asmart button from the plurality of smart buttons, generate on thedisplay within an area of each of a second plurality of smart buttons, amore detailed description of the set of the dynamic real-time summaryinformation associated with the smart button selected by the user.